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Being a guy who was born in the 1990s, I don’t really think about it if I see a badly spelt gang name or a pentagram spray-painted on a high school wall, but would you believe me if I said that there was a time when suburban American families were absolutely terrified of satanic cults? It’s true; Occult rituals were, at a time, prime-time topics because as news stations then broadcasted – there were high reports of stolen babies, threats of ritual sacrifice, and even sexual abuse were all being committed.. under the guise of evil cults who claimed to be worshiping the devil himself.

Call it what you will, but “Satanic Panic” was a big business in the late 80s and early 90s. Naturally, this went on to spawn hundreds of books, videos, and television specials aimed at pushing the fear of the occult into soccer moms and stay at home dads across the country, and it guess what? It worked. In fact, it worked so well that Police and other Law Enforcement agencies across North America began to look into typical graffiti – like the kinds I mentioned above – and investigate the ideology behind the pentagram; stating that it was evidence of what they called “a satanic presence.”

The face of a true expert.

TheLaw Enforcement Guide to Satanic Cults is a instructional video that Police were required to watch as part of their “training,” and it’s quite the experience.. On this educational tape, we see “occult experts” with mullets [I mean, it was the 80s] and for those still not convinced, there’s even interviews with alleged victims of satanic rituals! The VHS tape is only 73-minutes long, but it is a glimpse into the “Satanic Panic” era that’s as frightening as it is hilarious.

I’ve always been a huge fan of weird toys, old instructional videos, and other such obscurities. TheLaw Enforcement Guide to Satanic Cults is no different. It’s a lot of fun to watch, even if you can’t take it seriously. If you feel like you can handle “Satanic content,” [and the mullets!] You can watch the whole video below, and if you manage to watch it until the end, you’ll be treated my favorite part! A clip of a woman [in a bikini] being “prepared” by some older man who seems to be demonstrating “a ritual sacrifice.” Of course, as expected, this final clip is complete with the dotted lines to show where to slice and dice your “victims.”

All laughs aside, I know it’s easy to laugh at the awkward acting, over-the-top assumptions [that are made] and ridiculousness of the video, it’s important to remember – this was actually used to train police! Because of videos like this one, countless metalheads, goth kids, and occult enthusiasts became quickly [and unfairly] singled out as “suspects” in crimes they did not have any part in. In case you weren’t aware, this has happened before.

How do You feel about this “training video?” I know it’s a little obscure, and it’s definitely something from the 1980s, but remember: this was an actual fear that a lot of people had. In their defense, the Law Enforcement Officers were only doing what they thought was right for their respective communities; even if some people were wrongly accused for crimes they did not commit.

[Friendly Reminder: there was a time when I used to look like this – chances are, I would have been accused of something drastic too! For a more recent photo of me, click here!]

As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

A while ago [as in “February 2nd, 2016 while ago”]I wrote about how it seemed that Saw VIII was going into production under the name Saw: Legacy. [There’s already an IMDb page set up for it!] The thing is though, we know nothing about it: Could it be is it a sequel? Maybe a reboot, or some kind of spin-off, and while we – the heavyhearted fans – wait for more information to be released, we do at least have an official release date; and I’m telling you, it’s a familiar one.

“If it’s Halloween, it must be Saw.” Sound familiar? It should, because for many years, the Saw franchise released a new sequel every year around Halloween – to the point of it becoming a tradition, so with the new film coming our way October 27th, 2017: just four days before next Halloween feels pretty right to us horror fans. It feels like it’s welcoming the franchise home, and I like that feeling. a lot. This news comes to us from Movie Pilot, who says that IATSE 873 – a technical union based in Toronto – posted a notice about Saw: Legacy, and that it will be filming from September 12th through October 21st 2017. From the union’s forms, we can see that Dan Heffner and Oren Koules [who have been on board for all the previous installments of Saw to date] are listed as producers. A Director though, hasn’t been chosen yet, but all in due time.

[I quite enjoy the fact that the company is “Tricycle Productions“]

Last we heard, Lionsgate hired Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger to write up the screenplay, and series co-creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell will, naturally, be returning to produce the new film. It’s pretty crazy to consider that it’s already been six years since we had our last Saw experience in a theater with the less than perfectSaw 3D: The Final Chapter. With this upcoming October marking the 10th anniversary of Saw III, it seems appropriate to revisit Saw: Legacy, especially now since some exciting news has come up. Not only is the film actually happening; it’s happening a lot soonerthan we might have initially thought. So I guess what I’m really trying to say is, whether or not you want it to happen, we are getting [yet another] Saw film! I’m personally both excited and nervous, because The“Final” Chapter – as I mentioned slightly above – wasn’t my favorite in the franchise [and definitely wasn’t the best way to “end” a series..] but I’m skeptical – I just don’t want this to be another case of sequelitis..even if it feels like it already has.. But could this film be the “true” end? What do you think about having a newSaw films come to theaters, let alone so quickly?

As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

I’m back! For those that weren’t aware, my wife and I actually went to Niagara Falls for our one year wedding anniversary for the long weekend, and had a blast! Consequently, I wasn’t available to write anything because we were so busy with other things [like a wax museum!] If you wanted to see these pictures, and others, from the trip – be sure to travel over to my Instagram page and click follow.[seriously, my account is set to “private” so you have to click “follow” before seeing anything] It didn’t help that the internet would constantly log me off in the hotel either.. but you’re not here to hear me complain; you’re here because we just got an Ash vs Evil Deadseason 02 teaser trailer! For those of you that are just joining me, here on warrenisweird, I’m a huge fan of The Evil Dead and the TV series is no different. I even wrote an entire review on season 01, which took way too long [here you go!] but now, we’ve got a teaser trailer for season 02! I sure hope you’re ready, cause I know I am! [spoilers are everywhere in this trailer, especially involving the events that took place in season 01]

Season 02 of Ash vs Evil Dead jumps back into the action with Ashleaving his beloved Jacksonville and returning to his hometown of Elk Grove. It’s there that he confronts Ruby: The former enemies have to form an uneasy alliance as Elk Grove soon becomes “the nucleus of evil” – whatever that means. [I’m sure we’ll learn more about it as the season goes on, most likely as it heads towards the finale]

The cast is, of course, led by the legend himself Bruce Campbell in the role of Ash Williams; Lucy Lawless is back as the evil – but beautiful – Ruby, who [for those that remember from season 01] possesses the powerful Necronomicon; Ray Santiago as fan-favorite Pablo Simon Bolivar, who is Ash’s loyal sidekick who is still dealing with the trauma he suffered in the cabin; and finally – Dana DeLorenzo as my favorite: Kelly Maxwell, who – grief-stricken after the death of her parent – plots her revenge against The Evil Dead. Did I mention Ash‘s father – Brock – is set to make an appearance? This season is shaping up to be almost better than the first! But let’s cut to the chase, you’re here to watch the trailer for season 02, don’t worry; I forgive you. Check out the trailer below! But first, I have only one question to ask you: who’s your favorite character in the show? Is it lovable Pablo, who seems to be earning his shamanistic powers? Or is it the badass Kelly, who wants to exact her revenge after the death of her parents. Let me know in a comment or two!

As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

Between working both jobs, and applying for an English class – which will upgrade my English mark, and thus, allow me to reapply for college in 2017 – you could say this week has been pretty hectic. However, during my time applying for this English course, I thought back to my High School days [I’m going to redo grade 12 English in July for 3 weeks – I did pass it before, but with a terrible mark due to not caring for school at the time – hence, the “upgrade”] and the things I enjoyed doing/watching; at least to get into the mindset of being in school again. One such thing that crossed my mind was none other than Pokemon. You know exactly what I’m talking about: they’re generally cute little monsters that 10 year olds go out and capture – and do battle with their friends! I used to lovePokemon. I mean, I still enjoy it; just not as much. It’s still a fairly popular topic though, with both a TV show [still!] and games coming out almost yearly. In my case, I’ve always enjoyed the idea of fan-created Pokemon[known across the internet as “Fakemon”] and/or the fan-art in general. A lot of people try to them as “life-like” as possible, and for some Pokemon – as I’m sure you can imagine – is a horrific idea! [unless, like me, you like creepy and horror-themed monsters] And then there’s David Szilagyi – an artist online, who like us, enjoys Pokemon. He even enjoys drawing Pokemon.. in the most fucked up way imaginable. [be sure to check out his Patreonpage]

You see, concept artist and freelance illustrator David Szilagyi is on a mission – to ruin your cherished childhood memories, one twisted picture at a time. Using his love for Pokemon and the work of Stephen Gammell – who you might remember from Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark –Szilagyi‘s most recent project has him trying to re-draw the entirePokedex.. in the most nightmarish way possible! [For those who keep up with the games, we’re currently standing at over 730 Pokemon Monsters..that’s a lot of drawings]Chances are, you’ve even seen his art already online, seeing as he’s pretty popular. If you like his art, I strongly suggest supporting him at his Patreon page above – he releases two new pictures each week, and even a comic in the same horrific style. [but that’s only for supporters] Now onto the main event, the actual drawings. Remember, they aren’t the cute and cuddly monsters you once knew. They’ve..changed. For ease of posting, and saving time, I have included the original starters [and their evolutions] that Szilagyi has created in his “special style.” For all of the art he’s drawn, check out his ArtStation page; which includes more than just Pokemon.

Not exactly as you remember them? According to David Szilagyi, that’s the point – to be as terrifying as possible! Today’s question is a simple one; so long as you are/were a fan of Pokemon. What “type” is your favorite? Is it Squirtle‘s WATER type, or are you more of a CharizardFIRE type? Or maybe you’re a fan of another type; like STEEL or PSYCHIC? Let me know in the comments below! I’ve personally always been both FIRE and DARK, but I guess that comes to be expected of me – Charizard, Umbreon and Duskull are among my favorite Pokemon of all time. In regards to the me doing an “upgraded” English course, [that I briefly mentioned above] it will be taking up a good amount of my time, with work happening afterwards so I may not be as frequent on here in the month of July [however, I am still active onFacebook– sharing posts, etc –when I’m not able to write something onhere:the actual blog] Also, Stephanie and I are in Niagara Falls next weekend, since it’s going to be our one year wedding anniversary – crazy! I KNOW! But, I’ll be writing another post before we leave [Saturday July 2nd is our departure date – we’re back on the 5th..with English starting on the 6th…jeez, what a month July will be, and it’s not even here yet!] Anyway, I’m rambling, and that wasn’t the intention, so I’ll just leave you with a fan art rendition of one of my favorites, because if I’m being honest – I just really want an Umbreon.

Earlier this week – Monday the 13th – a friend and I went and saw The Conjuring 2. I enjoyed it, surprisingly a lot more than I expected; and definitely better than the first Conjuringfilm. [read my full review on The Conjuring 2 here] However, on the way back from the movie, I had an epiphany: if the “haunting” shown in the film is based on actual events, and Ed and Lorraine Warren were concerned about the whole thing being a hoax, just how much of is actual truth? That’s where we are today: I’m going to be looking into the true story behind the infamous “Enfield Poltergeist” and separate the facts from the fiction. As expected, this post does involve the plot and important details involving The Conjuring 2. Being as it’s a newer release, spoilers will be everywhere within this post. So if you haven’t seen the movie yet, or you’re okay with spoilers – let’s begin.

Before we officially begin though, it’s important to note that Director James Wandidn’t take many shortcuts when translating the infamous Enfield Haunting onto the big screen – this is proved when he went so far as to display real-life photographs and locations against the ones shown in the movie during the end credits. I mean, that’s impressive and it really adds to the tone of the film. Even hearing the actual tapes during the credits reminded viewers that this was an actual event..or was it?

At the beginning of the movie, we start with the infamous Amityville case and its aftermath, because most of Conjuring 2 has to keep going back to the Warrens‘ story across the Atlantic as they deal with how traumatizing the event was for Lorraine. The case in this movie was often called the “English Amityville,” or “the Enfield Case” because [unlikewhat was shown in the movie] there was many paranormal investigators swooping in from all over the globe. So yes, the Warrensdid drop by at one point in 1978 according to one of the investigators, Guy Lyon Playfair. But according to him, during an interview on Darkness Radio, the Warrens showed up “uninvited and only stayed for a day.” Even worse, Playfair claimed: “All I can remember is Ed Warren telling me that he could make a lot of money for me out of it.”Playfair isn’t the first to say something like this – over the course of their cases, the Warrens were constantly called out for “helping families for the money and fame” rather than their hearts of gold – which the movies show them to have. [listen to the entire interview with Playfair here]

though I gotta say, the chemistry between these two is perfect.

It’s important to note that a lot of the details in the movie, like how the supernatural problems occur after the girls play with a Ouija board, are fact though – and are straight from the accounts of the Hodgson family. [especially Janet and Peggy] They did flee to the neighbor’s house like they did in the film, with witnesses claimed they could hear “whistling” and “knocking on the walls” just as it happens in the film.

But note that I said “a lot” of the details..not all. Some of the more extravagant occurrences, such as the scene [that’s also seen in the trailer] where we see all the crosses on the wall turning upside down, has absolutely no basis in what the girls say happened: You read that right, this never happened. [though the girls claim that the room really did have crosses on the wall in the first place]Janet was also actually recorded having a deep-throated, evil voice when in interviews and throughout the investigations. You can also see in the interview below that the movie actually followed Janet‘s mannerisms and claims quite faithfully.

Another important tidbit, which comes from the movie and the actual case, was that an older man by the name of Bill Wilkinsactually died in their home. According to Terry: Bill Wilkins‘ son, the man actually did die in that bloody chair of a brain hemorrhage. As you no doubt heard in the interview video above, Janet claims to have been possessed by Wilkins, leading many to believe this gives a large credibility to the case. But does it? Hold on. In the movie, one of the skeptics points out that Janet could have very easily have heard about Wilkins from a neighbor, and it would have been very easy for her to fake the voice in order to keep the whole charade going. Still, the movie pays close attention to Janet‘s specific recollections, even adding her [actual] claims that when the “voice” came over her, she felt like something was behind her.. But this is all nothing compared to what comes next:

Janet was caught faking the haunting: and more than once!

[the longer I look at this, the more it really does look like she’s just jumping]

Near the end of the movie, the investigators catch Janet bending spoons and flipping tables on video, making it clear to them that she was faking the activity – but would you believe me if I said that this also happened in reality, with Janet and her sister faking it more than once in the exact same manner? It’s true as even Janetherself has admitted that “some” of the events were faked, even though she adamantlyremains convinced that most of it was real, including her possession. At least the haunting[s] stopped, right? By the end of The Conjuring 2, we earn something of a conclusion, that the demonic spirit is destroyed by the Warrens and everyone is happy. However, it also points out at the very end that Peggy Hodgson continued to live in the home until her last days of life [which is fact] and ultimately – died in the same chair as Bill Wilkins. This follows the truth of it [for the most part], as the Hodgsons have claimed over the years that while most of the haunting stopped after a priest visited them in 1978, activity still occurred in the home for the following decades to a smaller and lesser degree. Of course, like any other “true story”, the movie also left out a few important parts: such as Janet being sent to a psychiatric hospital where they “stuck electrodes” on her head for tests. Though, the tests turned out normal. The movie also leaves out that Janet‘s sister Margaret had “the voice” speak through her as well!

Left to right: Margaret, Johnny, Janet

The question I’ll leave you with today is “Is it all a hoax?” Unfortunately, It’s hard to claim that the entire case was just faked by this family considering all evidence to the contrary. But you have to admit: it’s even more impressive how well-documented this case was, which resulted in a movie that manages to capture much of the story’s compelling moments and arguments without drifting too far from the truth. You know, except for the part where Ed and LorraineWarren are not just “in it for the money.” If you’re still aching for more on this “case”, click here for a hour long documentary on the Enfield Poltergeist and be sure to leave your thoughts on this whole “scenario” in the comments below!

As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

I have a confession: I have an unhealthy obsession with going through sites like Kijiji and Amazon for used Blu-Rays or anything pop culture related. Although I browse them constantly, I’ve actually only bought something once. It was an Ash action figure from Evil Dead II and I absolutely love it – it’s even still in the packaging! [this is the one I bought!] However, we’re not talking about me, but rather, an unnamed woman from Goldsboro, North Carolina: She was buying a slightly used deep-freeze freezer, which she bought from her neighbor for only$30! But that’s when things got weird.. really fast; and I don’t mean it in the way we – here on warrenisweird – appreciate.. She might have even believed the seller when they asked her not to open the freezer right away, because, as he claimed, it was being used as a “time capsule” for a Sunday School project. It would have gone so well.. Except she probably would have reconsidered this sweet deal when she finally opened up the freezer and discovered something [unexpected] inside: the frozen remains of a human being.

source: WNCN

“A church was supposed to come to pick up the items inside the freezer,” the woman told WNCN News, stating that the neighbor had asked her to wait until the church arrived before opening the deep freeze up. Ultimately, “The church never came.” In the three weeks that passed afterwards, the neighbor had since moved away, claiming they were going to live closer to their mother, who was staying at a rest home in West Virginia. [making the reasoning behind selling the freezer sensible: they were “just downsizing”] The woman also mentioned that she hadn’t seen the [now deceased] elderly woman since September. As expected, once she saw what was inside the freezer, she immediately called 911. “I have a serious problem,” she told the dispatcher, describing what she’d found, while repeating “I am freaking out.”

When they arrived, Police on scene had confirmed that the contents were in fact parts of a human corpse; which the woman later identified as her neighbor’s mother. The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s office also confirmed the identification.

“She sold me her frozen mother for $30,” the woman told WNCN. “How do you do something like that?” According to the Medical Examiner, there are no signs of foul play, but the Policeare treating the incident as a felony. Watch the news report on this “real horror” down below!

I guess at the end of the day, the moral of this story is that you should always look at things you’re buying with the seller when buying from someone. Even if it’s something small, like a DVD – maybe the disc isn’t in the case and you’re assuming it is..until it’s too late. Or maybe your neighbor is selling a freezer…that happens to have a dead body inside. [too soon?]

As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

Here’s something exciting: a newhorror gaming segment. It’s something I haven’t done in a while, and after watching a few videos online about it, I decided I wanted to talk about a very specific game: Fran Bow. Developed by Killmonday – an indie studio founded/comprised of “two Swedish game developers of madness” [their words, not mine] who created this extremely well crafted game that is scary not once, but also the second time you play it. The game isn’t strictly horror either, it delves into subgenres – such as sadness, depression, and even other mental illnesses.. and they’re done perfectly. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we? If you upset by mental illnesses, or anything relating to the nature of these topics; consider this your forewarning. From here on out we’re going to be relating to and talking about our “hero” Fran Bow. [be sure to visit the official website for the game]

In the game, Fran Bow is the young girl who serves as the main character. She is described as struggling with “a mental disorder and an unfair destiny.” which I’m sure many of us can relate to. She also has a black cat named Mr. Midnight, who she refers to as her closest and only friend. As an individual, Fran is described as a curious 11 year old with bobbed brown hair and blue eyes. She usually seen wearing a yellow dress with a small blue bow tie and brown boots with black-and-white striped stockings. [see below]

[and the award for the creepiest 11 year old goes to…!]

When we first meet our “hero”, we see Fran Bow living a happy life with her mother and father just like any ordinary kid. [though Fran is no “ordinary kid”] They give her Mr. Midnight and shortly after her Aunt Grace arrives for dinner. After a few days, she is disturbed by an dark and ominous figure in her window, only then does she hear a scream from her parents’ room and goes to investigate..When she enters her parent’s room she faces what no kid should have to face – her parents. Killed and dismembered, with their bodies [and various lying about the bedroom. [Naturally] Terrified, Fran runs into the nearby forest with Mr. Midnight and blacks out. Though her cat seems to want to stay and comfort her, we see a dark figure [who we later learn is named Remor] approach. Fran is then picked up by a hooded figure. After this Dr. Deern wakes Fran up, which reveals this to all to have been memory. Fran and Dr. Deern talk for a bit, leading to Fran demanding to be released from the mental institute that Fran has been in the whole time. As one would expect, Dr. Deern sternly refuses her request.

Being as her parents are gone, Fran is given her mother’s old purse – which she finds a note from Aunt Grace inside. As soon as she reads the note though, a nurse was called in to the room in order to give Fran her “new medicine” called Duotine.Fran is told that she is not allowed to leave the room until she takes it, because it’ll “help her relax.” Of course, considering she has no other option, Fran takes the medicine, stating that she is not feeling well; and immediately has visions of blood, gore, and decapitated heads raining in the room. While unconscious, she dreams of Mr. Midnight, who encourages her to come find him, saying the pills will help her do so. He says he is waiting for her in the forest and tells her he loves her. It’s with these final words we start the game’s First Chapter.

Even though it’s not a long game, it is divided into Five Chapters with each one being even more depressing as the chapters go on:

Chapter One: Sober Day

Chapter Two, Part 1: Curiosity symptoms

Chapter Two, Part 2: Double Personality

Chapter Three: Vegetative State

Chapter Four, Part 1: My Imaginary Friend

Chapter Four, Part 2: Doctor’s Prescription

Chapter Five: The House of Madness

The one thing that I will always think is cool about Fran Bow from a game play point of view is that Fran is able to pass into this “other” hell world and alter her surroundings so that she can escape.. through the use of her pills. [Which can be used at any time during the game] The entire point of her “adventure” is to try and discover who is responsible for her parents’ tragedy and ultimately – find her way home. Along the way, Fran discovers a strange land named Ithersta: a magical fantasy-like land where vegetables and roots live together in harmony. After she leaving Ithersta she runs into a skeletal creature named Itward. Itward is the being that ends up helping Fran get back to her only friend: Mr. Midnight. On a depressing note, throughout the game we see that Fran‘s reality seems to be breaking down, making it difficult to tell what the difference is between what she sees when she’s using the pills or what she sees when she’s off them. Fran is ultimately faced with the reality that her parents have actually died and that the person responsible might be someone very close to her.

Itward [and his “flying machine”] and Fran

I’m not going to spoil the ending for the game, and as expected, I did miss a lot of points. I didn’t even explain whereRemor came from or what he/it is. If you are interested in a more in-depth explanation, check out this video on it – it’s actually where I heard about the game. Just know this: as Jordan points out in the video I linked, it’s not a “scary” game, it’s more a game about “hope”. Seriously – Watch it.

If one thing is for sure, it’s that we desperately need more games like this. Games with zombies, aliens, vampires, ghosts, demons, serial killers or animatronic abominations [if you didn’t get that reference…where have you been? Living under a rock?!] will always have a place within our favorite genre. But it’s so important that games developers don’t rely exclusively on these familiar “monsters” when there are real monsters that live inside our heads.

As someone who studied it a bit in my first year at college, Mental illness is a different kind of scary: it’s a real thing. Even though you might not understand it as intimately as someone who lives with it, you probably know someone who does. Somewhat ridiculously, it’s still somewhat looked down on in our society, and I hate that. It’s insane to know people see depression as something other people “choose” to feel. Mental Illness has, and often continues to, claim too many lives. I’m not just talking literally, but also in the passion for life it often pulls away from its unsuspecting host like an never satisfied insect. But we’ll talk about that another time. That’s enough sad-talk for one day.

As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

Good morning boys and ghouls, there is someone I absolutely need to introduce you to. Someone, who apparently is a biggerEvil Dead fan than I am! [Blasphemy, I know!] I don’t want to wait around so let’s get right into it. Please allow me to introduce you to Mike, the man who runs EvilDeadWorkshed. Mike – like most of us – is a lifelong and self-proclaimed Evil Dead enthusiast who makes replica chainsaws from the series. Pretty cool stuff, but the main reason I want you to know this guy is because he’s undertaking an incredibly important challenge that is valuable to the horror community. Calling this “project:” Operation: Evil Dead Uproot, Mike has found the original filming site of Evil Dead II and decided that it needs to be salvaged and preserved, making sure sure that it will forever live on for those who wish to proclaim their love to the beloved film. WAIT WHAT?

you can read the whole story here, but here’s the basic version: Mike has been in touch with the owners of the property where Evil Dead II was filmed, which for those unaware, is in Wadesboro, NC. Ever since 2011, Mike has been meaning to visit the location, if only to step foot where Evil Dead was filmed. One day, the owners warned him that they, “…will be clearing the area where the cabin ruins are located in order to harvest the trees for local firewood businesses.” For Mike, the thought of this was too much to handle. “After having a long conversation with the owners, I have been given permission to come to the site and remove ANY and ALL Evil Dead II structures that are able to be saved prior to the devastation of the site area,” Mike explains.

an AWESOME floor plan of the cabin – in film – by Patrick Soucy.

Unfortunately in 2014, the cabin collapsed due to a “…micro burst that hit [the owner’s] property“, so collecting and saving everything has proven to be somewhat of a difficult process. The frame of the work shed was so rotten and so damaged by termites, that Mike came to the logical conclusion to leave it behind and will build an identical frame upon which they’ll attach the original outer planks. As for materials and items from the cabin, he and his friend were able to gather as much as they possibly could, which in itself – is extremely impressive!

Of course, the million dollar question comes up: why does this matter? Luckily for you, Mike has an answer for that too! As Mike himself explains, “I am not making any money off of this. I spent a shit load of money to do this. I’m doing this for everyone. Bringing the secret and private site out of the woods and into public view. I plan on trying to bring some these structures to some of the [Western Pennsylvania] Comic-Cons.”

That’s right! Depending on how everything goes – and you’re in the area – you might get a chance to interact with these original props and structures from Evil Dead II! Unfortunately being Canadian, this will prove difficult on my end..unless Steph and I went on a road trip; but knowing that someone is doing something many of us wouldn’t even fathom makes Mike one hell of a guy. From his official page, here’s a complete list of the items that were saved from the film’s site:

The entire Workshed [Complete Exterior and Roof Metal] Due to framing rot, the workshed collapsed during this process

The fake foam tree [180 degrees of the lower 5 feet of one tree]

1 large Cabin window [kitchen area]

Cabin rear door frame with one door hinge and one screen door hinge still attached

Rear interior and exterior door trim

Interior base boards

Interior window frame [next to back door]

1 Cabin window [rear room left of the rear door]

5 bundles of cabin flooring

3 large sections of interior walls

Cabin roofing

Roofing nails from the workshed

Cabin roofing cap

3 remaining chimney stones [painted styrofoam]

Exterior Cabin wood [various locations]

Exterior Cabin plaster

One 55 gallon drum inside of the workshed [Resin labels – possibly used for the trees]

One 55 gallon drum found 100 feet from the back door [appears to be the one Ash tripped over]

The complete upper West wall of the living room [above where the cellar door would have been]

Roofing slats from the Workshed

One break away Ram-O-Cam door with a hinge attached

90% of all remaining coal rocks where Ash buried Linda

A very large amount of window glass

The rear stairs framing

One rear stair

Small and Large pieces of white interior wall

Once again, I highlyrecommend heading to Mike’s page where he documents everything he did, because it’s extremely impressive. We’re talking about the endeavors and skills of a true horror fan and he deserves our thanks! Below, I’ve included a few pictures that Mike has posted, showing us fans the site now and his progress.

So there you have it, proof that you – nor I – are the “ultimate Evil Dead fan”. I think that as I’ve shown here, Mike from EvilDeadWorkShedtakes that spot pretty easily. The question remains though: what do You think about the concept of rebuilding an iconic Cabin? Is it something that needs to be done? Or an unnecessary piece of work? Let me know in the comments! Also, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[we’re now at over 150+ likes – let’s reach over 200!]

By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog! Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself! I recently reviewed Captain America: Civil War, and I gotta say: I absolutely loved it! [read that spoiler filled review here] Apparently so much, that I’m actually seeing it again tonight! [I recommend it highly for any Marvel fan]

Seeing as I’m someone who lives in the North America, I sometimes find myself feeling as though I’m trapped in a “movie bubble.” Granted, it’s a comfortable bubble, but it’s difficult not to think of all of the insane horror movies we tend to miss from other countries. As a fan of foreign horror, I’m talking about films like Batoru rowaiaru[Battle Royale], Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da[I Saw The Devil] or Oldeuboi[Oldboy] – all of which I strongly recommend – though they do make it to North America, it should come as no surprise that there are some foreign movies, stories and general ideas that we would be missing out on. Not every last production or project is going to call for exporting. Some are best to be stay behind; right where they came from.. Which is what should have happened with: Mahakaal, or as it’s known in English: The Monster. [it’s also sometimes known as “Time of Death”]

It’s important to note that unlike the other examples of foreign horror films I used above, [which were all Korean cinema] this film is a Bollywood film – meaning it’s a Hindi film. Don’t read into this wrongly, I have nothing against Bollywood, but I do feel the need to point out that a lot of their films seem to follow the same plot: boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy has to prove his worth to girl’s family. Is Mahakaal any different? Let’s look into it.. For starters, the film itself looks ridiculous for so many reasons, that you’re bound to lose count. But if there’s one thing you’re absolutely guaranteed not to miss: it’s the clear “borrowing” from other horror movies – specifically, one film in particular..and it’s a favorite of mine. Need a hint?

That’s right! Mahakaal is a [very] low budget Indian rendition of A Nightmare On Elm Street. But hold on; we’re not really talking about a loose rendition – no, this is a flat out, wild, and obvious rip-off! That guy you see above? The one with the glove – he’s not Freddy Krueger – he’s “The Monster” of the movie. Even the synopsis sounds very familiar to Nightmare, claiming that “a mysterious monster haunts the dreams of a young woman named Anita, who becomes concerned when one of her friends is killed by the monster in a dream.” The thing is though, this movie has a terrible habit of either being a clear as day rip-off, or straying so far from the path; that it may as well be a completely originalidea! [With mixes of ANOES] For those who are considering watchingMahakaal, it runs at almost two and a half hours; and most of this time has the characters singing and dancing for no reason, even after they realized they’re being stalked by The Monster.[Though singing and dancing is typical in Bollywood cinema, so I guess I’m not overly surprised] Because of the long screen time, I searched for short clips on Youtube and Vimeo and actually found something better: someone actually re-cut the film, highlighting the important parts. If you have ten minutes, be sure to check it out below! It’s hard to take seriously, but that’s why it’s so damn great!

Still haven’t had enough? I also feel obligated to mention that one of Mahakaal’s weirder additions to the ANightmare On Elm Street premise is there’s a scene where a group of angry men corner and molest the heroines. [which was actually a common social problem in India at time] However, toward the end of the film, we see a possessed Anita take one of these men up on his offer to go back to his place – where she slaughters him! Of course, before that happens, she and another female character endure not one, but multiple scenes where they find themselves groped in public – but fear not! Their boyfriends come to save the day.. with martial arts! [because of course they do!]

So that’s Mahakaal: a movie that isn’t afraid to show that it’s a rip-off of a film that is so close and dear to horror fans everywhere. It’s by no means a “bad movie”, but it’s unnecessary.If you were to cut out the songs, the over the top “jokes”, and shorten the film by at least half an hour; you could have something of a fun film. Be that as it may, it’s still a bizarre and curious film from the world of Bollywood. If you’re still curious, and you want to watch Mahakaal in it’s entirety, you can do that here – subtitles and all – the film quality is actually decent, and it’s easy enough to follow along.. if you can follow along to monsters, murder, and dance numbers.

Now I turn to You. What are Your thoughts on Mahakaal? Is it something you found interesting? Or should blatant Nightmare On Elm Street rip-offs stay away from North America? Let me know your thoughts on the matter in the comments! As for me, I think I’ll just stick with good ol’ Nightmare from the master himself: Wes Craven! If you enjoy foreign horror, which [foreign] film is your favorite? Writing this made me want to see more so I’m open to suggestions! Also, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[it’s at over 149+ likes – only a few more and we’ll have reached over 150!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been “gone live” online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

remember: this is from “Mahakaal.” NOT “A Nightmare On Elm Street”..good luck convincing me otherwise..

Even if I’m more into horror as a genre, one thing I used to love more than anything was anime. I still do enjoy it, but I’m very particular [whereas I used to just watch anime “just so I could say I’m watching anime”] about the series I’m watching. One series that I used to watch religiously [and still enjoy to this day] is Death Note. The series follows a young man – Light Yagami – who comes across a Shinigami’s – or “Death God” – notebook which claims that anyone who’s name is written in the book will die. Naturally, Light finds this a useful tool in his attempt to “cleanse the world” of evil, to create a “new world” where he’ll be the ruler. Light even becomes known as “Kira“, an almost hero of the people. [since he starts by only killing criminals] Of course, it isn’t that simple, as a mysterious detective known only as “L” appears, claiming to solve the mystery of who Kira is, and a dangerous cat and mouse begins between the two. It’s a really enjoyable series, both in manga and anime, which I strongly recommend if you haven’t seen. It’s not even that long either, so you could probably marathon both seasons in less than a week! [points to you, Netflix!] In fact, the exact year the anime ended, there was – not one, but three – live action movies made based on the series in Japan. While the third one, titled: Death Note: L: Change The Worldnot being as good as the other two, it was still an interesting take on the character. Now, we’re getting a newDeath Note live action movie..and it’s going to be “Americanized” – seriously.

Taken from the Japanese live action film. [left: Ryuk – the “Death God” | right: Light Yagami]

This isn’t new to anyone though, because this live action movie actually started life back in 2011, with Shane Black attached to direct. But, like with many Hollywood productions based on manga and anime properties [don’t get me started on Dragon Ball Evolution..] it landed itself in production hell, as nobody in Hollywood seems to understand Japanese pop-culture! Even as early as last year, Warner Bros picked up the production for the film but again, let the project sit. Letting it waste away. Then came both STX and Lionsgate, who are both fairly interested in making this Death Note a reality, bringing it to theaters for a large-scale audience. Unfortunately [I just reallywantedto see it on the big screen] this is more than likely not going to happen.. because Netflix has now stepped up to take the helm, with production on the movie to start as early as June 2016!

It’s actually refreshing to see that Netflix has stepped in here and is actually doing something about this adaptation. This is most likely because Netflix, unlike some companies, is a very data driven company and follows what the consumers are interested in. [I mean, we got a new Pee-Wee Herman movie because of Netflix – that’s awesome!] Hollywood, on the other hand, has this big ideological disconnect with their viewers, especially when it comes to foreign property. It’s unfortunate, but true that they don’t seem to be able to successfully overcome that yet.

So while we might not have a trailer yet, and it might be strange to consider an “Americanized” Death Note film, I can safely say that I’m curious. Worried, but genuinely curious about how this movie will turn out. It’s definitely in good hands with Netflix, since they seem to know what they’re doing with big name series, and their fans love them! [they know this all too well] I’ll be sure to keep updating on here when more news, or even a trailer is released. My only concern that I can think of, is how will Ryuk look? the CGI one from the Japanese live action film was perfect, but will it be as perfect in the American one? There’s many questions left unanswered at this time, but I just need to know more!

Ryuk in the manga – Death Note

As always, now I turn to You. What are Your thoughts on an “Americanized” Death Note? Is it something you’re excited for? Or are you worried that it’ll turn out like Dragon Ball Evolution? [*shudders!] Let me know your thoughts on the matter in the comments! Once again, if you haven’t seen the Death Note anime – I strongly recommend sitting and watching the series, it’s not very long, and it is on Netflix.[No excuses!] It’s well worth your time, even if it does get kind of strange near the end! Also, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then pleasetake a minute and follow meover on my Facebook page[it’s at over 147+ likes – only a few more and we’ll have reached over 150!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see everypost from warrenisweird the verymoment it’s been posted online; and I alsoshare links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch – with my most recent reviews including newer/theatrical films such as Deadpool and The Revenant and older films, such as Nolan‘s Dark Knight trilogy. Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!